Independence Day: Osun group to stage protest against worsening hardship
The Coalition for Concerned Nigerians, the group behind the #EndBadGovernance protests in Osun, has called on residents to take to the streets once again in response to the worsening economic situation in the country.
Speaking to journalists in Osogbo on Monday, the group’s coordinator, Adetunji Ajala, expressed disappointment over the lack of action from the Bola Tinubu-led administration, despite previous protests.
Ajala highlighted that last month’s End Bad Governance 1.0 protests, aimed at drawing attention to the government’s failure to address the mounting economic challenges, had been ignored by the federal government.
“The President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration was not ready and willing to listen to the demands of the citizens,” he stated. “Instead of reducing the suffering of the people, the government has worsened the situation by inflating hunger and hardship.”
Ajala further explained that the protest initially sought to address issues such as the rising fuel prices and the growing levels of poverty affecting millions of Nigerians. However, the government’s response has only deepened the crisis.
“The current administration does not listen to peaceful talk of addressing fuel hike price and hunger that the majority of Nigerians are passing through, which necessitated the End Bad Governance protest,” he added.
In his address, Ajala pointed out that the government’s recent increase in fuel prices has led to a domino effect on the cost of essential commodities, housing, and transportation.
Meanwhile, many states are yet to implement the long-promised new minimum wage, further exacerbating the hardship faced by ordinary citizens.
“The President Bola Tinubu-led government, instead of reducing the suffering of people, has increased the price of petroleum, which led to an increase in prices of commodities in the market, increase in shelter and accommodation fees even when the new minimum wage is yet to be implemented in many states,” Ajala stated.
The group is now urging Osun residents to join a renewed wave of peaceful protests, set to coincide with Nigeria’s Independence Day celebrations.
According to Ajala, the protest is not just about calling for change but also about survival in the face of mounting challenges.
“It is on this note that we urge residents in the state to join the peaceful protest to make our voice sound louder and show our grievances that nothing is worth being celebrated for Independence Day. For us, it is a ‘National Day of Survival,'” he concluded.
This call for action reflects the growing dissatisfaction with the current administration and its handling of Nigeria’s economic challenges, underscoring the need for continued civic engagement and peaceful protests in the pursuit of better governance.
